Middle dam
Middle
Middle is a local government-owned dam located in Clatsop, Oregon, on Bear Creek. Built in 1940, this earth dam stands at 39 feet high and serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 168 acre-feet. The dam has a surface area of 9.4 acres and a drainage area of 4 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 50 cubic feet per second.
Despite being categorized with a high hazard potential, Middle is currently in fair condition as of its last inspection in August 2020. It features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and has a hydraulic height of 37 feet. The dam spans 410 feet in length and is regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Middle represents a vital infrastructure that contributes to the local water supply in the region. Its location in Svensen, Oregon, along with its historical significance and functionality, make it an important asset that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of downstream communities and the sustainability of the water resources it serves.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Middle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Naselle River Near Naselle | 99 cfs | → |
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Nr Quincy | 70,400 cfs | → |
| Nehalem River Near Vernonia | 51 cfs | → |
| Nehalem River Near Foss | 458 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chehalis River Near Wildwood | 56 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Castle Rock | 7,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Middle.
⚓ Boat launches
- Astor Drive Clatsop County
- Aldrich Point Boat Ramp
- 17th Street Transient Dock
- Kerry West Marina
- West Mooring Basin
- Highway 4 1251-1299, Skamokawa
⛺ Campgrounds
- Nicoli Mnt Ohv ( Lookout Rock Quarry )
- Saddle Mountain Campground
- Saddle Mountain State Park
- Elochoman Slough Marina
- Skamokawa Vista City Park
- Fort Stevens State Park Campground
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Middle in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Middle
Where does the data for Middle come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Middle.